Women's Center - A-Z Index

Simple prostatectomy

Simple prostate removal is a procedure to remove the inside part of the prostate gland to treat an enlarged prostate
. It is done through a surgical cut in your lower belly.

You will be given general anesthesia
(asleep, pain-free) or spinal anesthesia (sedated, awake, pain-free). The procedure takes about 2 to 4 hours.

Your surgeon will make a surgical cut in your lower belly. The cut will go from below the belly button to just above the penis. The prostate gland is removed through this cut.

The surgeon removes only the inner part of the prostate gland. The outer part is left behind. The process is similar to scooping out the inside of an orange. After removing part of your prostate, the surgeon will close the outer shell of the prostate with stitches. A drain may be left in your belly to help remove extra fluids after surgery.

Alternative Names

Why the Procedure Is Performed

An enlarged prostate can cause problems with urinating. This can lead to urinary tract infections. Taking out part of the prostate gland can often make these symptoms better. Before you have surgery, your doctor may tell you some changes you can make in how you eat or drink. You may also be asked to try taking medicine.

Prostate removal can be done in many different ways. The kind of procedure you will have depends on the size of the prostate and what caused your prostate to grow. Open simple prostatectomy is often used when the prostate is too large for less invasive surgery. This means that the prostate weighs 100 grams or more. However, this method does not treat prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy
may be needed for cancer.

For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.

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